Newest U.S. citizens, from five continents, now call Vt. home

Judge, governor welcome group in naturalization ceremony in Essex

"Oh my God, I'm so excited," said Elmina Dzano, as she pondered what had just happened. "I can't believe after 12 years I become American citizen!"

An immigrant from Bosnia, who now makes her home in Barre, Dzano stood with her husband and two children in a large throng of happy families who had also just taken the oath of allegiance from Chief U.S. District Judge Chirstina Reiss at Essex High School Wednesday morning.

"It's just an honor to watch people cross that threshold into citizenship," Reiss said later. "I really do feel I'm greeting new brothers and sisters into the country."

Thirty-one people from 19 different countries -- spanning five continents -- became naturalized American citizens at the event.

All had to have entered the U.S. legally, have lived here at least five years, and passed all citizenship tests to be accepted.

"It's a straightforward process but a long process," said Guillermo Gomez, a new citizen from Columbia who now lives in Burlington and works as an engineer.

The auditorium at Essex High School was full of unique stories.

"My mom came here before I did, because of the war, and I followed her," sad Sanganyi Lubula, 21, who was raised in the Congo.

She now plans to be a nurse and said America is a "really a good country. You can be free go to school and do what you want to do."

Keith and Jane Blok immigrated from Ontario, Canada.

"I've wanted to be come an American citizen since I was 18 years old," Keith said. "I tried to go to Vietnam because if you went to Vietnam and came back you could become an American citizen."

That war soon ended, and Mr. Block, a cheese-maker, found himself waiting 44 years for the opportunity.

The Bloks, like most of the other new citizens, registered to vote before leaving the high school.

"Now I can go see a Dallas Cowboys game and don't have go through Customs to get there anymore," he said.

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